The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-29

mission d Warrington, has returned
from that city. He takes the dscision
Of the commission very philosopbi.
cally. ~ attribute its failure more to
the possibility that our case was not
presented In the most felicitious and
convincing manner than to any mic
judgment on the part Of the commif-
sion, which l think 10 great part
misinterpreted our request. We did
not, as intimated in the exact text Of
the opinion, base our request on the
demand that commercial travellers
tickets should isIus at lower rate
than any other. All we want Is to be
accorded q rate corresponding In its
mileage proportions to the most fav-
orable granted any other class Of
tourists. Our efforts, however, have
not been entirely devoid OF success.
The Missouri Pacific people have
promised US that thousand mile tick
cts, goodlover any part Of the system,
will DO Issued at the rate OF $25.
Hitherto $50 have been charged on
many Of the Gould roads In the South
west, 30 that, In addition to the extra
expense, II has been necessary for
commercial travellers 10 have separate
tickets OF this kind for esch OF mum.
Der OF branches. st. Louis Globe.
ID .mocrat.
"JuDaINa from what has already
been done In the matter OF railway
construction In China, the British
Consul at Tientsin, Mr.. b. Brennan, Is
not inclined TO take very hopeful
view OF the prospects for rsilwey en-.
terprise there. II Is intended, he says,
10 extend TO Tientsin, by way OF the
newly constructed Tsku, the line con.
Meeting the K'aiplng coal mines with
the town Of Lu.iai on the river Peh.
fang, the Chinese government having
given its consent to the extension, be-
cause OF the military utility Of the
new line. The requisite capital II sp-
pears, has been provided by half-a-
dozsn local officials; and, adds Mr..
Brennan, at 10 already evident that the
control Of the rail ways will DO In
official hands, and that the public,
who may be invited to subscribe, will
have no voice In the direction OF
affairs. What the result will be can
only too surely bs forecast from tn,
China Merchants Steam Navigation
Company, which started with
every advantage, and which In q few
years became hopelessly involved
through the incompetency and venal-
ity OF the officially appointed directors.
This Ia most unfortunate beginning.
The Chinese Government seems 10.
solved that railways shall bs made
with Chinese capital; and Chinese
shareholders, with an official board OF
directors at their head, are helpless;
they have to acquiesce In whatever
the directors choose TO do, aud the di.
rectors themselves have 10 consult the
Wishes Of tho higher official,, who
make or unmake them. In any new
venture the Ohinete are always San
guine, and II Is quite probable that
until sufficient time has elapsed for
them TO discover that they have been
v.ciimized, Chinese with capital will
be- tempted by the railroad prospectus
which may be put before them
London Economist.
TnK recent decision OF the Inter- tate
Commission In the cases Of Louis Har-
rison Va. tho Grand Trunk Line, and
the Michigan Central against the same,
are prt cedents which will be OF much
interest, not alone 10 the little world
OF commercial travellers, who are cloee.
ly involved In the case, but also 10
the travelling public generally. The
charges In each cafe are unjust dis
elimination, and are embodied In the
fact that the Grand Trunk Line 70.
fused 10 tell Harrison q l000.mlle
ticket at the ra'es charged TO drum.
mere, and that this same line wfs, 90
the Michigan Central ayers, ceiling 10
commercial travellers NJ q lower rate
than 10 the general public. The dc.
fendsnt admits the fact a. charged, but
claims that nothing alleged was In con-
Aict with the law.
The opinion rendered by the Com.
misaion was very lengthy and clear,
aud concludes as follows: Common
carriers may continue the issuance oil
mileage passenger tickets, the
charges for which must be
reasonable and Just, and free
from unjust discrimination OF
unreasonable preference. Persons be
longing 10 the class known 90 CONNER
clal travellers are not privileged 10 ride
over railroads at lower rates than are
paid by other persons. Whatever
reasonable rates commercial travellers
are made 10 pay, other travellers may
be made TO pay. To charge one more
than the other Ia unjust dlscrimipa
ton, and this Ia true whether ticket
Issued are mileage tickets or In some
other form. Tho fe'usal OF the de
iendAnt, the Grand Trunk railway, e
the complainant, Harrison, thousand
mile ticket for $50, the price at which
said company was ceiling such ticksiI
10 commercial traveller, and he neg
ltct 10 publish rates at which deien
dant wRs Offering 10 cell mileage
tickets, were alike In conflict with 'thI